Lyngdorf MP-40 2.1 AV Processor Review

[Mr. Widget]

I have another question for the MP-40 owners here: is it possible to save and easily switch between different speaker configurations? (I.e. 5.2 for movies, 2.2 for music)

Not sure, I never tried. Why would you want to?

I have two MP-40s. I use one in a dedicated 2.2 room so that MP-40 is configured for 2.2 and the other is in my HT with a 5.3.2 configuration (Really it is a 5.1.2 with three independent subwoofer channels). When I playback 2 channel or 3 channel stereo on my surround system the MP-40 only plays the appropriate channels and the others are silent. I don't see what telling it to limit itself to a channel count would achieve beyond this.

 

[PEQuestrian]

Not sure, I never tried. Why would you want to?

I have two MP-40s. I use one in a dedicated 2.2 room so that MP-40 is configured for 2.2 and the other is in my HT with a 5.3.2 configuration (Really it is a 5.1.2 with three independent subwoofer channels). When I playback 2 channel or 3 channel stereo on my surround system the MP-40 only plays the appropriate channels and the others are silent. I don't see what telling it to limit itself to a channel count would achieve beyond this.

I'm not sure how feature rich the MP-40 is in comparison but with Audyssey XT32 Denon & Marantz processors in my single space, I absolutely need two presets to quickly switch between a number of different configurations for music or movie content to get the best SQ: Audyssey dynamic EQ settings, LFC, subwoofer levels etc.

I just skimmed through the manual and it doesn't seem to have saveable speaker presets. Even if Room Perfect has no dynamic loudness curves, reference offset levels, low frequency containment, at the very least, I know that I would want to be able to quickly switch between two different db settings for both L & R subs that are built into my Legacy Aeris speakers.

Would love to hear from others who are using a single MP-40 for both HT and 2ch listening - perhaps with prior experience using other processors - if they feel features are limited or wish the unit had saveable presets.

 

[Mr. Widget]

In Lyngdorf lingo the EQ preset is called voicing. You can set any source to have a different voicing by default and it is super easy to toggle through the voicings with any or all sources. I am not sure if there is a hard limit to how many different voicings you can have, but you can certainly store more than you would likely need.

 

[Holmz]

…
Would love to hear from others who are using a single MP-40 for both HT and 2ch listening - perhaps with prior experience using other processors - if they feel features are limited or wish the unit had saveable presets.

My preamp has a set of inputs marked as “bypass”, so for two channel I turn on the preamp.
For 5.x.x I leave the preamp off, and the MP plays the sound.
But we also use spotify etc. through the lyngdorf.

I am not sure why someone would want to switch.
One either likes the Room Perfect, or they do not.
It is not like it only works for HT and does not work for 2 channel.

Some people do low frequency correction with a DSP, so it is not really any different than that.

 

[PEQuestrian]

My preamp has a set of inputs marked as “bypass”, so for two channel I turn on the preamp.
For 5.x.x I leave the preamp off, and the MP plays the sound.
But we also use spotify etc. through the lyngdorf.

I am not sure why someone would want to switch.
One either likes the Room Perfect, or they do not.
It is not like it only works for HT and does not work for 2 channel.

Some people do low frequency correction with a DSP, so it is not really any different than that.

I completely agree with running room correction for both scenarios. Ideally a software that can correct in all three domains, without forcing (dynamic) house curves and signal compression.

Mr Widget answered it for me though: voicings seem to be like different presets I can assign to different inputs which is exactly what I was looking for.

Now I just need to find me a used deal.

 

[Mr. Widget]

I completely agree with running room correction for both scenarios. Ideally a software that can correct in all three domains, without forcing (dynamic) house curves and signal compression.

Mr Widget answered it for me though: voicings seem to be like different presets I can assign to different inputs which is exactly what I was looking for.

Now I just need to find me a used deal.

The only real limitation I have found with the MP-40 is the fact that there are no analog inputs. For any analog only sources you will need to add an A to D. I use a miniDSP Flex which is totally transparent, fairly compact, and reasonably simple to use.

 

[PEQuestrian]

The only real limitation I have found with the MP-40 is the fact that there are no analog inputs. For any analog only sources you will need to add an A to D. I use a miniDSP Flex which is totally transparent, fairly compact, and reasonably simple to use.

I saw that, fortunately a non-issue for me. I'm 100% digital on the input side and currently use a WiiM Ultra for streaming and HDMI for TV, PS5 Pro and my BluRay Player.

 

[Mr. Widget]

I saw that, fortunately a non-issue for me. I'm 100% digital on the input side and currently use a WiiM Ultra for streaming and HDMI for TV, PS5 Pro and my BluRay Player.

Depends on what you are streaming, but I use my Lyngdorf natively to stream so my only other input is the miniDSP Flex.

 

[elmoe420]

The only real limitation I have found with the MP-40 is the fact that there are no analog inputs. For any analog only sources you will need to add an A to D. I use a miniDSP Flex which is totally transparent, fairly compact, and reasonably simple to use.

The MP-40 doesn't support the add-on cards like their other models? An addition cost on an already extremely expensive device to be sure though.

 

[Mr. Widget]

The MP-40 doesn't support the add-on cards like their other models? An addition cost on an already extremely expensive device to be sure though.

There are no slots in the MP-40. It is not an inexpensive product to be sure, but I find value in its quality construction, excellent UI, and features.

 

[elmoe420]

There are no slots in the MP-40. It is not an inexpensive product to be sure, but I find value in its quality construction, excellent UI, and features.

You don't have to convince me. I own the MP 60, a 3400 and previously an 1120. Big fan.

Just didn't realize that the MP-40 doesn't have the expansion slots. Both my MP-60 and 3400 do.

 

[Holmz]

I completely agree with running room correction for both scenarios. Ideally a software that can correct in all three domains, without forcing (dynamic) house curves and signal compression.

Mr Widget answered it for me though: voicings seem to be like different presets I can assign to different inputs which is exactly what I was looking for.

Now I just need to find me a used deal.

I read this again…

I'm not sure how feature rich the MP-40 is in comparison but with Audyssey XT32 Denon & Marantz processors in my single space, I absolutely need two presets to quickly switch between a number of different configurations for music or movie content to get the best SQ: Audyssey dynamic EQ settings, LFC, subwoofer levels etc.

I am not sure why ^that^ is so.
Wouldn’t the correction and voicing be the same, the main difference between movies and music being whatever the engineer did during the the production?
How would the same speaker, in the same room, require a change ?

I just skimmed through the manual and it doesn't seem to have saveable speaker presets. Even if Room Perfect has no dynamic loudness curves, reference offset levels, low frequency containment, at the very least, I know that I would want to be able to quickly switch between two different db settings for both L & R subs that are built into my Legacy Aeris speakers.

Would love to hear from others who are using a single MP-40 for both HT and 2ch listening - perhaps with prior experience using other processors - if they feel features are limited or wish the unit had saveable presets.

I am assuming ^here^ that you are thinking about some Fletcher Munson voicing for low level, which I can envision being useful.

 

[Titurel]

I am not sure why ^that^ is so.
Wouldn’t the correction and voicing be the same, the main difference between movies and music being whatever the engineer did during the the production?
How would the same speaker, in the same room, require a change ?

This assumes there are not engineering choices being made during mix down. Let me assure you there are plenty of choice being made, not all of them good. I rely on the voicing feature to compensate for who was on the mix desk and for the label's miking philosophy. This is particularly true with film mixes, which vary wildly from utterly opaque right through clear as well water to please stop screaming at me. I have one or two voicings just for stereo sources (my house curve) and half a dozen for film mixes, mostly to clean up dialog and tighten bass response for Marvel Comics mixes.

Another handy feature is the ability to EQ channel groups within the Speaker & Room/Speaker Setup/(edit configuration) window. Here I can tweak my center channel for dialog and have it applied regardless of voicing choice.

 

[Mr. Widget]

Another handy feature is the ability to EQ channel groups within the Speaker & Room/Speaker Setup/(edit configuration) window. Here I can tweak my center channel for dialog and have it applied regardless of voicing choice.

I've been told they will be releasing a firmware upgrade that will allow individual channel EQ before room correction. This could be handy for asymmetrical room layouts where you need to massage say the left or right speaker to get them to match. Currently you can only do that for the various groups as you mentioned, which is also helpful.

 

[Holmz]

This assumes there are not engineering choices being made during mix down. Let me assure you there are plenty of choice being made, not all of them good. I rely on the voicing feature to compensate for who was on the mix desk and for the label's miking philosophy. This is particularly true with film mixes, which vary wildly from utterly opaque right through clear as well water to please stop screaming at me. I have one or two voicings just for stereo sources (my house curve) and half a dozen for film mixes, mostly to clean up dialog and tighten bass response for Marvel Comics mixes.

Another handy feature is the ability to EQ channel groups within the Speaker & Room/Speaker Setup/(edit configuration) window. Here I can tweak my center channel for dialog and have it applied regardless of voicing choice.

Ah - I am interested.
So it is something like some PEQ settings to tilt up or down the mix?
Can you expound more on it - especially the centre channel?

 

[Titurel]

Ah - I am interested.
So it is something like some PEQ settings to tilt up or down the mix?
Can you expound more on it - especially the centre channel?

In addition to the Room Perfect RC system, the MP40 2.1 has additional eight band per channel group PEQ in the speaker config part of the menu system. There is also a voicing utility which globally applies another 8 bands of PEQ.. As was mentioned, many voicings can be saved and quickly applied. And if you get really desperate, there is loudness comp and moveable frequency global bass and treble controls.

My center channel tweak is nothing special, a little notch at the bottom of the normal male speaking range and a double humped boost in the upper vowel formant range.: -2db at 200Hz, Q2; +2db at 1120Hz, Q1.6; +2.4db at 3320Hz, Q.81 Of course, this is in my room, with my speakers, and my funky old ears. You mileage will likely be different.

 

[Gedis1248]

Thank you for reviewing - great to confirm my choice as I am heavy vested in Lyngdorf. I own mp60 in my dedicated HT for about 4 years now and I love it. I have 7.3.4 setup. The setup was easy, the sub/speaker alignment was as good as it gets. I have HT room acoustically treated with panels, bass traps, etc... I bought mp40 for a family room 2 years ago for 5.2 setup - this is a very big room with high ceilings and no acoustical treatment. Again room correction did an excellent job of aligning subs with speakers. Very satisfied with the products so far. Tried and passed on Trinnov as I do not believe in the consistency of the the PC based platform. Like using Dolby Upmix for post-sound processing for all the streaming videos from Netflix and Prime. The only complaint - for 5 channel sound Lyngdorf uses the rear surround speakers rather than left, right surround speakers which is not ideal in my setup due to better quality and positioning of the surround speakers. You can work around by loading different configurations but it takes time and seems to be an overkill solution. I wish there is a simple setup option where you say - use surround speakers for 5 channel sound.

 

[Titurel]

Thank you for reviewing - great to confirm my choice as I am heavy vested in Lyngdorf. I own mp60 in my dedicated HT for about 4 years now and I love it. I have 7.3.4 setup. The setup was easy, the sub/speaker alignment was as good as it gets. I have HT room acoustically treated with panels, bass traps, etc... I bought mp40 for a family room 2 years ago for 5.2 setup - this is a very big room with high ceilings and no acoustical treatment. Again room correction did an excellent job of aligning subs with speakers. Very satisfied with the products so far. Tried and passed on Trinnov as I do not believe in the consistency of the the PC based platform.

The recent releases of Mac's OS (Sequoia 15.4.?), in particular the version of Safari that shipped with it, is not compatible with with Lyngdorf's software, resulting in a blocked wifi connection (to the web interface) and various problems with the UI - remote and front panel. The work around is pretty easy (and Lyngdorf promises an eventual fix). BTW, they were very quick addressing my online service request.

The Fix

1. From STANDBY (nominally off) remove power - unplug or use the rear panel power switch.
2. Leave the power off for a minute or two.
3. Restore power; the unit should now reboot and go into Standby. (nominally off, front panel dark)
4. Restart. The remote and front panel UI should now work. No setting should have been lost. DO NOT use Sequoia's Safari to access the web interface.
5. Use either a pre-Sequoia 15.4-update OS or another browser to access the web interface. (I use Firefox just to access the MP40 2.1)
6. If your unit "bricks" again or if this fix didn't work the first time, repeat steps 1-3, making sure that you power down from Standby (the panel front off button). Wait for the front panel to be totally dark before removing power.

 

[Petrakeas]

Does mp-40 add latency for the audio processing? I will be mostly gaming with PS5 than watching movies, so latency and of course audio/video sync are important to me.

If I connect it to the TV directly and send the audio to mp-40 via e-arc will it be in sync, or will the audio lag? Does room perfect add extra latency?

 

[Thighsofsteel]

The recent releases of Mac's OS (Sequoia 15.4.?), in particular the version of Safari that shipped with it, is not compatible with with Lyngdorf's software, resulting in a blocked wifi connection (to the web interface) and various problems with the UI - remote and front panel. The work around is pretty easy (and Lyngdorf promises an eventual fix). BTW, they were very quick addressing my online service request.

The Fix

1. From STANDBY (nominally off) remove power - unplug or use the rear panel power switch.
2. Leave the power off for a minute or two.
3. Restore power; the unit should now reboot and go into Standby. (nominally off, front panel dark)
4. Restart. The remote and front panel UI should now work. No setting should have been lost. DO NOT use Sequoia's Safari to access the web interface.
5. Use either a pre-Sequoia 15.4-update OS or another browser to access the web interface. (I use Firefox just to access the MP40 2.1)
6. If your unit "bricks" again or if this fix didn't work the first time, repeat steps 1-3, making sure that you power down from Standby (the panel front off button). Wait for the front panel to be totally dark before removing power.

I just removed Safari from my Home Screen after fixing this and use Chrome now.